UNLEASHING OF A CRISIS

The reading focuses on Dr. Jose Rizal’s excursion from the time he departed for Spain to
continue his studies, the path he took as he started writing his novel (Noli Me Tangere and El Fili
busterismo), the publishing of his novels noli me tangere and el fili busterismo that got a lot of
backlashes from the Spanish government in the Philippines, up to the time of his repentance
before his execution.
So when rizal arrived in madrid, spain was under the rule of alfonso xii who’s government is
moderate constitutional monarchy. The government have brought back their respect towards the
catholic church, given the fact that during the time of his parents queen Isabela and king francis,
the Spanish government were destructive towards the catholic church and were trying to
eradicate them from their country. However, Alfonso’s government does not want any of that.
Hs government was very much respectful towards the catholic church and there a complete
tolerance, freedom of press, and stimulating political life, where in the government sees to it that
the people knows whatthe government is doing and the government also knows that people
areaware and have fully understood what the government is doing.
Also at that time liberals and conservatives where taking turns in the parties of the government
which ensures that no burgeosie are left behind or have felt isolated.
So all these political ideas and are frequently discussed in the La Centra or the Universidad
Central de Madrid, and we all know that this was the school rizal studied medicine. So when he
was staying in La central, he met a lot of people who share the same political fondness with him
(Miguel morayta, Francisco margall) , most of these peoplea re the men of the
progressivistliberal party, they are deemed as extremely politically involved who are likely to be
involved in revolutionary acts, and most of all they are anticlerical. Eventually, rizal had also
became part of this group. Although he had some hesitations of pushing through this decision but
later on it led him to think that these men are martyrs of freedom who have powerful reasons for
ch resentment against the church and their teachings.
In his stay in La central together with his group of progressivist liberals, he frequently discuss
about the problems in his country (philipines) and eventually developed some sort of nostaligia
for his country, especially when he got involved in police charges and participated in student
demonstrations. THERE WERE SO MUCH THINGS that welcomed rizal during hist time in
spain. Things that he encountered in spain that were contradictory to what he had in philipines.
Like in spain, radicalism approached him but then the inner conservative in him counteracts it. It
seemed like even though he was overwhelmed by these ideas and enlightenment in spain, the
INNER filpino in him is somehow taking over.
On the last year of his study, he spent so much time contemplating as what to really his purpose
in life is. he wrote an entry to his diary saying that he have come to a decision that we will be
different kind of man. A MAN OF PRORGRESSIVIST IDEAS WHO CONCEIVED IN HIS
HEART A GLORIOUS PROJECT THAT HE WILL DEVOTE THE REST O HIS LIFE.
and this project that he is referring to is the FREEDOM AND REDEMPTION OF THE
PHILIPPINES FROM THE SPANISH OPPRESSORS.
So adding that, rizal was again bombarded with so much things. The weight of baggage that he
was carrying all throughout his life in spain was almost too heavy and unbearable for him.
(RADICAL IDEAS, HOMESICKNESS, RELIGION, CULTURE SHOCK FINANCIAL,
HEALTH, LOVE LIFE, TRADITIONS, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES)
BUT IS THERE REALLY A CHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE?
The crisis that he had to deal with during that time knd of like occurred in nature and tional and
resulted from intellectual and political agitation. Rizal was triggered or influenced by all the
things, ideas, teachings, discussions, that stemmed from his interctions with the group of liberals
he’s been with.
AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS NOCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE.
The life situation that he is dealing with in spain and his decision to take a stand and fight fr
freedom and redemption of his country from the Spanish oppressors are predestined for him, it is
his fate from the moment he saw his fellow filipinos in calamba getting abused and stepped on
by the Spaniards, right then and there he knew that he despise these people for doing such things
in the land that they don’t even own, he knew that one day he will d something to set things right
and seek vengeance against the evil ones.

MY TRAVELS WITH DOCTOR JOSE RIZAL

This reading is about the personal recounts of Maximo Viola during his Europe tour with dr. jose
rizal after rizal’s novel were published. These narratives were documented on his personal diary.
WHO IS MAXIMO VIOLA?
Maximo Viola plays an integral part in the completion of Noli Me Tangere, particularly in the
publication process. He, too, was a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, where he
completed his pre-medical studies. In 1882, he travelled to Spain, where he got a medical degree
from the University of Barcelona. In Barcelona, he met Dr. Jose Rizal, who was also involved in
the Propaganda Movement and would later become his friend.
During that time in Barcelona, rizal spent most of his time alone because Viola is I the midst of
reviewing for his final exams thus he was unable to accompany him all throughout the day.
However, sometimes at night, they’d spend time together walking aound Barcelona and they
even reached the houses of low flying doves” or houses of ill refute”
Throughout the time that he spent with rizal, he got to observe little things and habits that he
does, like going to bed early, lighting a candle and opening a book, then around 6 to 10 mins
after, he will then say goodnight to viola. He even thought that the regular routine rizal was
doing involved prayers, but it turned out that he was actually studying german language..(5
radical german words) They also spent time studying things neither of them have encountered
before (civil engineering). Viola was able to see how good rizal’s ability to memorize things is.
In rizal’s time in Berlin, he was having financial difficulties. Viola was also there and he was
Rizal’s student for german language. viola observed that most of rizal’s jewelries were missing
and it turned out that he sold them off.
Viola also noted in his narratives how honest and sincer rizal was. there was a time where the
german authorities became suspicious towards dr. rizal due to his frequent crossing between
France and Germany, so they had to ask rizal for his passport which later on turned out that he
doesn’t have any. As he was processing documents for him obtain a passport, viola saw how
eager rizal was and since there is nothing that he can do bcuase the Spanish authorities can’t
issue him a passport. He had to be honest with the german authorities and explained to them hat
his intention in staying in Germany was to study ethnography and that he had to make
investigations in the small towns and villages f people who’s customs nd way of living are
simple and natural. because of his honesty and sincerity, the chief police have now freed him
from threats of deportation.
Noting dr rizal’s financial difficulties, rizal was not able to meet his physiological needs (shelter,
food, and such) he ended up getting sick and he was thinking that he might have had
tuberculosis. As a good friend, viola took rizal to a doctor and turns out that he was just
malnourished. Rizal was concerned about his financial inability to publish Noli Me Tangere at
the moment, and he considered abandoning his purpose by deleting the book.. Viola was so
convinced of the novel's significance and purpose that he self-funded its publication, with an
initial print run of 2000 copies in 1887. Rizal sent him the drafts and the first published copy as a
token of his thanks.
Rizal wanted to tour major places in Europe after the publication of Noli Me Tangere, and Dr.
Maximo Viola agreed to accompany him. rizal received paciano’s remittance of 1000php which
was forwarded by Juan Luna from paris and rizal immediately paid the dept to viola, the money
he loaned fr the printing of his novel. His secret purpose and his travels overseas To study the
lives and cultures of European nations, as well as their languages and customs, industries,
governments, and laws, in order to prepare himself for the tremendous job of freeing his
suffering people from Spanish oppression.
The two of them travelled in the mid of spring season and they destination was DRESDEN,
which is labeled as one of th best cities in Germany. the place were remarkable for numerous
variety of flowers of different sizes ad beauty…they visited dr. meyer. they get to see the
museum of art and rizal was very uch impressed by the arts that he saw.
They then went to meet Blumentritt at Leitmeritz(CR), He was carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal
that he had received from the latter in order to identify his Filipino friend. Rizal and Viola were
cordially welcomed by him. They get to spend time with the Blumenritt family, they had
Austrian dishes and entertained rizal and viola with much joy. This reminded rizal of the
hospitality that filipinos possess back in the Philippines.
Then they went to prague (Czech republic), wherein they visited the tomb of Copernicus,
laboratories of bacteriology, museums and then they got recommended to visit BRUNN and
VIENNA, They got to see the grand and artistic buildings and the scared ornaments and images
of saints. Rizal even gave his opinion towards crucifix and he indicates that The crucifix was
designed to respond to lectures presented from the church in order to persuade the audience.
Then they travelled to LINZ, SALZBURG, then in MUNCHEN, where they get to visit the best
breweries in Germany.
They also visited NUREMBERG, they get to see the apparatus thet were used for torture by the
inquisition on the 12th century (the catholic church wanted to destroy and combat the ones who
does not believe or go against the roman catholic, or simply they wanted to eradicate other
religions in their place, like Jews and muslims. (horses with saddles full of nails)/

ULM, (largest and tallest cathedralin Germany; under construction; hundred steps stairs; viola
exhausted; rizal able to climb without resting; BADEN, RHEINFALL OR CASCADE OF
THE RHINE; SCHAFHAUSEN; BASEL; BERN; LAUSANNE; GENEVA (one of the best
cities in Switzerland), after days of their excursion in Geneva, they also prepared their stuff s
they are about to art ways. rizal to Italy and viola to Barcelona. Viola also conluded in his mind
that during their travels. rizal’s economic mentality was always in harmony with what was
strictly necessary and indispensable, but at the same time consistent with comfort and security.